31 July, 2025

FEAST DAY GREETINGS TO ALL! Today, July 31st, we celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a day that is always an occasion for remembering Ignatius’ legacy for us and so many others through the centuries, a day to appreciate our Jesuit friends and wish them every blessing. We give thanks, too, for the spiritual exercises … the examination of consciousness … rules for the discernment of spirits to help us be honest, generous disciples and friends of Jesus … and for an apostolic spirituality that undergirds and nourishes our daily quest for God and love for the world.

You’re probably aware that Pope Leo chose the theme of “formation in discernment” as the July prayer intention for his Worldwide Network of Prayer. Maybe you’ve also read his personal prayer for discernment, or viewed one of the several video renditions available online since July 3rd.

In the Vatican press release for the prayer and prayer intention, Cristobal Fones, SJ, the Chilean director of the Worldwide Network of Prayer is quoted as saying, “formation in discernment is fundamental to navigate a complex world. This includes prayer, personal reflection, the study of Scripture and spiritual direction. Cultivating a deep relationship with Jesus is most important. In this way, we can recognize his voice in the midst of so many other voices in the world, and have the clarity necessary to make decisions based on more human proposals and horizons.” Vatican press statement, July 3, 2025

Although we’ve already come to the end of July, Pope Leo’s prayer for discernment and his call for ongoing formation in discernment for today’s world is meant for all of us — young, old, and in-between — beyond this month. As a catalyst, therefore, for renewing our personal and communal spirit of discernment, we offer this SHCJ video of Leo’s prayer, and be sure not to miss its most helpful Augustinian twist at the end.